The credits for My Rival: Donald Fagen - lead vocals, backing vocals, synthesizer, organ Wayne Andre - trombone Tom Scott - tenor saxophone, lyricon, horn arrangement Randy Brecker - flugelhorn Michael Brecker - tenor saxophone Pat Rebillot - electric piano Hiram Bullock - guitar Rick Derringer - guitar Steve Khan - lead guitar Steve Gadd - drums Anthony Jackson - bass Ralph MacDonald - percussion Nicholas Marrero - percussion Valerie Simpson, Frank Floyd, Zack Sanders - backing vocals
Steve Khan, guitarist who solos on 'Glamour Profession', once again leaving his laid back but rhythmically precise, melodic, bluesy yet subtly sophisticated 6 string contributions on this track.
Donald describes himself as a "whining stranger and willing to match whim for whim!" Hilarious! I know Walter came up with that. That's Donald Fagan to a T.
You have a first impression of a song, and subsequent listens are then influenced by that, but then when you find out that this song is about a father jealous of the attention his newborn is getting from his wife, you are again listening to it for the first time. These guys have been blowing me away with their wit, sound, humour, grace and humility for decades. Just love it. So lovely seeing you guys also digging it. xx
"Funky but chill" perfectly describes the song "My Rival" & several other cuts on this album. They seemed to have reached a newer, more relaxed groove or maybe it was just their maturation. Whatever the case, we dig.
My 3rd favorite Steely Dan song. From the first 13 seconds of the song-the bluesy part-to the part directly after that, redefine my love for the song and the band as a whole. The unique lyrics also make for an interesting story with a few different interpretations.
Hey guys. The Hammond B3 is large here on Rival. And it's a who's who on guitars. (I think Rick Derringer is one of the guitarist on this one.) Everything so in the pocket. Keep up the nice work.
For anyone familiar with film noir and the classic black and white flicks from the 30's and 40's, this song is the musical companion to those visual stories.
I made this same comment on another My Rival RU-vid page but this is the song I played for my son when we brought him home from the hospital after he was born now nearly 30 years ago..I wanted his tiny little ears to hear Steely Dan first before any other music. He grew up listening to Steely Dan just like I did when I first heard them back in the summer of '73. He learned to play the trumpet and has self taught himself to play the electric bass guitar as well.
yes, it would be dope to hear the outtakes on this,,the practice jams.. by the way, Steely Dan is an -entity- picked up out of a William Burroughs Novel -Naked Lunch-
It has to somehow capture both NY and LA in the same drink. It has to contain Cuervo Gold (and fine columbian), it has to be make by measuring things to the ounce and drop, it has to be drank in a paper sack like daddy used to in that NY city. Just don't die behind the wheel afterwards
Their lyrics are indeed, as you say, CRYPTIC. I also believe that they take a literary license in many of there songs. Just as they do "change ups" instrumentally they also throw in lyrics that do not necessarily match the earlier ones in a song. But, in the end, that's just one of the reasons I find them so interesting. They have been called a "thinking man's band" after all.
Believe it or not, that was not a drum machine. It just goes to show you how good Steely Dan was at producing, as well as choosing amazing musicians. Legendary session drummer Steve Gadd was the drummer on this track.
I believe, but am not sure, that My Rival = a New Baby. Dad is a little miffed that Baby is getting most of Mom's attention. Dad has time on his hands and is hangin or picking up food at the bar and grill - like a surburban Chili's A milk truck eased into my space = baby breastfeeding Somebody screamed somewhere = baby. prickly pear = baby food A lot of baby attention is at night = film noir with a jokey attitude. Funky guitar and attitude. The tell: "I still recall when I first held Your TINY HAND in mine [My rival, show me my rival] I loved you more than I can tell But now it's stomping time" Post-feeding, Baby is laughing at Dad. "Sure he's a jolly rogerUntil he answers for his crimeYes I'll match him whim for whim now" Dad will act like a baby for mom's attention OR just another weird Steely Dan song...
I never really thought about this interpretation of the song, but it seems to make sense. I always wondered what the line about the tiny hand meant. The part about the scar and the hearing aid kind of throws me off a bit though lol.
I have read this theory online before among some others but there are definitely some weird lyrics if it is about a baby. Could just chalk it up to Walter & Donald messing with the listeners. Giving us just enough to form half assed theories. Kind of like Your Gold Teeth (which I think is one of their best songs), I still only have rough idea/ theory about it’s subject matter. I gotta go with just another weird song, albeit a great song
Of course *I* know what the song means. 😉😁 The song is a revenge tail--a man waiting to beat up his rival. We start with our narrator, entering a bar while "a milk truck eased into my space" (cheating with the milkman is a classic meme) and "somebody screamed somewhere" --sordid events impending. He then says that his detectives "filmed the whole charade" And that his rival has a scar across his face, and wears a hearing aide (yet still wins his girl friend's affections) I especially like the "Yes, I"ll match him whim for whim now." Which means to me that he will match each of his rival's sexual whims with his own violent ones. Nice. Thanks for your great reactions! Just a thought--have you ever considered familiarizing yourself with the lyrics before listening. I know that means your video won't be your first experience with the song, but knowing the lyrics might help you have a deeper reaction? Just a thought. Peace!
We held a channeling session last Labor Day weekend (the anniversary of his passing) and asked Walt his take on a good recipe for a "Steely Dan" cocktail. This is what he told us: "Tanqueray, Campari, and Blue Raspberry Kool-Aid. Well chilled."
I don’t know if you realize, but Steely Dan reunited in the mid ‘90s and recorded a new album in 2000, called, “Two Against Nature”. It won the Grammy for Album of the Year. In 2003, Steely Dan released their final album entitled, “Everything Must Go”. This might be my alltime favorite album of theirs, and that’s saying something. I’m a huge Dan fan, seen them 6 times and Donald Fagen solo 1 time. You should react to both of these albums. It’s an older more mature Becker and Fagen and the music will continue to blow you away.
I agree...."Everything Must Go" is terminally under appreciated. I love the stripped-back, (for Steely Dan) dry nature of the production. So different from their earlier work, yet still pristine. "Two Against Nature" is also amazing, but much more slick than EMG. Love 'em both.
I forgot how good this song is. Funky, but chill is exactly right. It's like technicolor film noir. And yeah, it's about a detective hired to find a 'romantic' rival, but the groove of the song feels like sinister obsession in a dark fedora hat. I think the Steely Dan cocktail would be rum with V8 and a really big pickle spear garnish.
I'll have a " 'Dan." I can hear it now, you guys. Whatever's in it, it must contain at least a drop of "bitters." Wouldn't be a "Dan" without that edgy vibe, y'know?
FYI - this may have been the replacement song after The Second Arrangement was wiped out by the intern engineer. Either this or Third World Man. The Second Arrangement would have been SO MUCH BETTER! My Rival has a good groove, but it gets tiresome after awhile. The organ sound from My Rival was heard a lot in The Nightfly - Fagan's solo effort that came after Gaucho.
"I still recall when I first held Your tiny hand in mine" ; It's Hillary or Joe Biden singing about Donald T, projecting forward 35 years; Not so cryptic at all.
